Newly-upgraded stretch of Cambodia’s national road to boost trade with Thailand

The newly upgraded 84.74km stretch of Cambodia’s National Road 5 – from Battambang town north to Banteay Meanchey provincial capital Sisophon – will improve trade, tourism and investment between Cambodia and Thailand, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen. The leader made the comment at the inauguration ceremony of the road segment on January 10.

Now 100 percent completed and inaugurated, the road will turn former “battlefields” into markets and places of production and tourism, make the lives of locals easier, and spur economic growth, he said. Last year, the trade volume between Cambodia and Thailand reached about $10 billion, more than $9 billion with Vietnam, and over $100 million with Laos, figures that are likely to continue to grow, Hun Sen said.

He said the renovation project of the highway is considered to be about 90 percent completed, with the bulk of the remaining work being the removal of landmines and unexploded ordnances.

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501006154/newly-upgraded-stretch-of-cambodias-national-road-to-boost-trade-with-thailand/